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      • About Us
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    • Membership
      • Membership
      • Application
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      • Membership Payment
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      • Community Events
      • Easter Egg Scramble
      • Halloween Carnival
      • Fantasy of Lights Parade
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      • Why We Serve
      • Scholarships / Grants
      • Read to Exceed
      • Day of Literacy
      • Tempe Cares
      • Holiday Giving
      • Boy Scouts
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Kiwanis International
    • KCOT History
    • KCOT Fundraising
    • K-Family
    • Kiwanis Park
    • Board of Directors
    • Lt. Governors/Presidents
    • Kiwanians of the Year
    • Awards
    • Notable Members
  • Membership
    • Membership
    • Application
    • Corporate Members
    • Membership Payment
  • Meetings
  • Community Events
    • Community Events
    • Easter Egg Scramble
    • Halloween Carnival
    • Fantasy of Lights Parade
  • Service Projects
    • Why We Serve
    • Scholarships / Grants
    • Read to Exceed
    • Day of Literacy
    • Tempe Cares
    • Holiday Giving
    • Boy Scouts

Kiwanis Club of Tempe

Kiwanis Club of TempeKiwanis Club of TempeKiwanis Club of Tempe

"The Club of Clubs"

"The Club of Clubs""The Club of Clubs"

Fireworks Show

How it Started

KCOT was a new club, chartered four months before the Tempe Daily News reported on June 19, 1952 that, "All arrangements have been completed for the whiz-bang display of pyrotechnics on the Fourth of July in Goodwin Stadium....  Ray Haire and John Ellingson, co-chairmen for the Club's first fireworks, said proceeds would go to its program for underprivileged children."


"The fireworks will consist of 185 aerial pieces, with demonstrations of two gasoline-powered model airplanes; a trampoline demonstration by Frank Bostock; and a demonstration by the Tempe Unit of the Arizona National Guard."


An Arizona Republic account noted that "there will be a full hour of entertainment, including many brilliant fireworks."


The Tempe Daily News gave its report on the fireworks show in its July 5 edition:


          2000 See 4th of July Fireworks:  Kiwanis Show Good for First Attempt


               Around 2,000 persons turned out Friday evening for the Fourth of July fireworks display and show in Goodwin Stadium.  It was the first annual event staged by the Kiwanis Club for benefit of its handicapped children's fund.

               Tentative figures indicate the club will be 'in the clear' on expenses for the show, which topped $1,000, but how much will go into the benefit fund still was to be determined.  Harry Burger, club president, indicated a complete report would be available Monday.

               Firemen who stood by doused two starry fireballs from aerial rockets.  One fell on a house  at 112 E. 4th St. 'toasting' composition shingles.  The other fell in the west stadium seating.  The home, formerly owned by Col. D.H. Davis, was recently purchased by H.C. Hanger.  There was no damage.


Over $230 ultimately went to the benefit fund from the first KCOT fireworks show.  

The venue for the fireworks show moved several times from Goodwin Stadium (now a parking structure at Lemon St. and College Ave.) to Sun Devil Stadium to Packard Stadium to Tempe Diablo Stadium to Tempe Beach Park at Tempe Town Lake, and back to Tempe Diablo Stadium.  

Event Information

Want to find out more about tickets, attractions, parking, or restrictions?  For all this information and more, please click the button below to visit our Tempe 4th of July Celebration website: 

Take Me there

Tempe 4th of July Celebration

My have times changed!  KCOT's annual Tempe 4th of July Celebration will draw over 10,000 people at Tempe Beach Park; is 5 hours of entertainment; a large fireworks display; live music; sweet treat vendors; free family fun zone; etc... etc.  To see a full list of activities and other information, please visit Tempe4th.com.  Since the first fireworks show, KCOT has raised and distributed millions of dollars with the help of generous corporate sponsors, and everyone whom attends. Although times have changed, KCOT's intention remains the same - to use all net proceeds gained from the Independence Day event to support local children and youth organizations, in keeping with the Club's purpose of "improving the world one child and one community at a time." 

Our Partners


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